Best colleges for Fine and Studio Arts in Missouri
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Missouri-St Louis, Missouri State University - Springfield and University of Missouri-Columbia are the top bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Missouri by graduate earnings. University of Missouri-St Louis leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $32,224, College Scorecard. Lindenwood University, Kansas City Art Institute and Missouri State University - Springfield award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Missouri: 77, 59 and 45 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 26 Missouri colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts and award 466 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Fine and Studio Arts program focuses on the practice and theory of visual arts and design, encompassing various disciplines such as illustration, painting, sculpture, and graphic design. This program is ideal for students who are…
Top 9 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Missouri-St Louis Saint Louis Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,224 | 21 | 57% | — | $28,837 |
| 2 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,024 | 45 | 58% | — | $27,750 |
| 3 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,034 | 42 | 75% | — | $22,000 |
| 4 | Kansas City Art Institute Kansas City Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $22,906 | 59 | 58% | $29,039 | $27,000 |
| 5 | Missouri Southern State University Joplin Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $29,309 | 15 | 42% | — | — |
| 6 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $28,421 | 19 | 58% | — | $19,000 |
| 7 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $27,236 | 13 | 54% | — | $28,000 |
| 8 | University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $25,476 | 18 | 55% | — | $25,500 |
| 9 | Truman State University Kirksville Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $15,998 | 14 | 69% | — | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Missouri
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lindenwood University Saint Charles Private not-for-profit | 77 | Not reported |
| 2 | Kansas City Art Institute Kansas City Private not-for-profit | 59 | $22,906 |
| 3 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield Public | 45 | $24,024 |
| 4 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia Public | 42 | $23,034 |
| 5 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis Private not-for-profit | 41 | Not reported |
| 6 | University of Missouri-St Louis Saint Louis Public | 21 | $32,224 |
| 7 | Webster University Saint Louis Private not-for-profit | 21 | Not reported |
| 8 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau Public | 19 | $28,421 |
| 9 | University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City Public | 18 | $25,476 |
| 10 | Missouri Southern State University Joplin Public | 15 | $29,309 |
ShowHide the other 16 Missouri colleges offering Fine and Studio Arts
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Central College | Union | Public | 14 |
| Truman State University | Kirksville | Public | 14 |
| University of Central Missouri | Warrensburg | Public | 13 |
| Jefferson College | Hillsboro | Public | 12 |
| Culver-Stockton College | Canton | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Columbia College | Columbia | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| College of the Ozarks | Point Lookout | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Saint Louis University | Saint Louis | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Avila University | Kansas City | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Northwest Missouri State University | Maryville | Public | 4 |
| Park University | Parkville | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Drury University | Springfield | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Lincoln University | Jefferson City | Public | 2 |
| Southwest Baptist University | Bolivar | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Missouri Valley College | Marshall | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| William Woods University | Fulton | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators (SOC 27-1013).
Top skills
What Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators earn in Missouri
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Fine and Studio Arts programs in Missouri.
Which Missouri colleges award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees?+
Lindenwood University (77 graduates a year), Kansas City Art Institute (59 graduates a year) and Missouri State University - Springfield (45 graduates a year) award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Missouri, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 26 Missouri colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts.
What is the best college for Fine and Studio Arts in Missouri?+
By graduate earnings, University of Missouri-St Louis leads among bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Missouri, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $32,224, College Scorecard. Missouri State University - Springfield and University of Missouri-Columbia follow. By degrees awarded, Lindenwood University is the largest, with 77 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Fine and Studio Arts program in Missouri has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Missouri-St Louis tops the list at $32,224. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators earn in Missouri?+
The average annual wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in Missouri is $51,890 (median $49,820), across about 110 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Fine and Studio Arts program?+
The Fine and Studio Arts program focuses on the practice and theory of visual arts and design, encompassing various disciplines such as illustration, painting, sculpture, and graphic design. This program is ideal for students who are…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active learning, active listening, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators?+
The national job outlook is about -1.2% growth with around 2,200 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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